How Data Center Pollution is Driven By Fossil Fuels, Backup Generators and Insane Network Demand

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Learn about the environmental challenges facing data centers.

As demands for network bandwidth continues to increase due to billions of online users, data center pollution has become a growing environmental concern. Although most people don’t really know where the power to stream movies or download videos comes from, the public does become aware of data centers when network grids overload and lead to a brownout.

“Data centers are springing up in every community to meet the growing network demands of consumers,” stated Kevin Wood, Camfil USA Vice President Sales & Marketing. “But with that demand also comes a number of environmental concerns, especially pollution created by power generators that run off fossil fuels including coal, gas and oil. It is an issue that can quickly become a health-care crisis if large companies can’t find solutions to mitigate the environmental damage caused by these facilities.”

Recent Data Center Statistics

As online activity has mushroomed to nearly unmanageable proportions, data centers have become the beating digital pulse that sustains networks throughout the world.

A piece on the Ciena website, (1)  shed some light on the proliferation of data centers, citing statistics that show there are more than 7,500 data centers in the world, with a third of them located in 20 of the biggest cities on earth.

Furthermore, data center construction is expected to increase by 21 percent through 2018, as demand for networks continues to grow.

In the U.S., California leads all states with more than 300 data centers, second in the world only to London, which has 337 data centers.

But the growth of data centers does not come without an environmental cost.

Data centers require power to operate, which means the construction of new power plants to keep these facilities running.

The National Resources Defense Council warns that,(2) “data center electricity consumption is projected to increase to roughly 140 billion kilowatt-hours annually by 2020, the equivalent annual output of 50 power plants, costing American businesses $13 billion annually in electricity bills and emitting nearly 100 million metric tons of carbon pollution per year.”

In fact, more than 40 percent of the entire operating costs of a data center are spent on the power needed to keep these facilities running. This includes the costs of cooling the equipment to prevent malfunctions.

Data Center Pollution

People who binge-watch their favorite streaming TV series are not often aware that the power to keep that streaming channel running has an environmental cost.

Per The Guardian, (3)  data centers throughout the world are contributing two percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions, which is nearly equivalent to the emissions from aircraft.

One example may help you understand how consuming content has a direct effect on the power necessary to keep that content streaming: Watching a 10-minute video of cute cats doing cute things on YouTube releases one gram of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

One of the lesser-known aspects about powering data centers is that many of the largest companies building the largest data centers fail to report fossil fuel usage in their emissions.

Per the Environmental Leader, (4) data centers such as those used by Google and Amazon, “underestimate fossil fuel usage by 30 percent or more, and thus have much higher emissions than they report.”

Lux Research estimated that Google’s massive data center in Berkeley County, South Carolina derives 62 percent of its power from fossil fuels, although the company reports fossil fuel usage at 35 percent.

Similarly, Amazon reports that its 23 data centers in Virginia only derive 35 percent of their power from fossil fuels, but Lux Research estimated that usage to be closer to 43 percent.

Why is this so important?

Because according to the Union of Concerned Scientists, (5) “coal plants are the nation’s top source of carbon dioxide emissions, the primary cause of global warming. In 2011, utility coal plants in the United States emitted a total of 1.7 billion tons of CO2. A typical coal plant generates 3.5 million tons of CO2 per year.”

Furthermore, fossil fuel burning is also a primary component of smog and pollution, and releases harmful pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter (PM), and mercury.

Mindful of the public relations nightmare associated with using fossil fuels, some of the bigger companies such as Google are starting to invest heavily in clean, renewable energy, which provides some hope for the future as data center construction continues to grow.

Clean Air Solutions

Camfil understands the need to reduce data center air filtration , and knows the special requirements of data centers, including the proper cooling environment, and facilities where pollutants need to be controlled. We can help data center operators reduce their energy costs by as much as 40 percent by providing air filters that are efficient. Please visit data center air filtration video for more information about Camfil air filters for data centers.

 

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

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E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

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SOURCES

1. http://bit.ly/2rq11TM

2. http://on.nrdc.org/2rUT0cT

3. http://bit.ly/2rpwsxm

4. http://bit.ly/2rUOWcy

5. http://bit.ly/2rpzQIJ

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Could Lowering Outdoor Airport Pollution Help Improve Indoor Air Quality?

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Learn about how an airport in Minnesota is trying to tackle air quality

Airports are one of the most congested areas in major cities, because they are often located in places with high vehicle traffic and industrial processes. As a result, airport pollution has become one of the persistent problems for city officials, as they grapple with the long-term effects of bad air. There is hope, however, as some airports are taking the initiative to push through measures to lower pollution.

“There is really no optimum way to lower the amount of indoor pollutants at airports without first addressing how to reduce outdoor pollution at these places,” stated Kevin Wood, Camfil USA Vice President Sales & Marketing. “That is why you are seeing more initiatives at major airports aimed at lowering the amount of airborne pollutants. This may be a key aspect of improving indoor air quality.”

Sobering Airport Pollution Statistics

Vehicle exhaust and factory emissions are among the most common causes of airport pollution in major urban areas.

And far from being just a nuisance, airport pollution has become a real health care issue throughout the world.

Fine particulate matter and ozone emissions from civil aircraft are responsible for around 16,000 premature deaths annually across the world, according to a study carried out by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US. (1)

“We found that unregulated emissions from [planes flying] above 3,000 feet were responsible for most of the deaths,” stated Professor Steven Barrett, the author of the study and an aeronautical engineer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. “Regulators need to explicitly consider the impact of cruise emissions on human health.”

The challenge is that many of the pollutants generated at airports are particulate matter (PM) that is microscopic in size, much smaller than a strand of human hair and capable of being inhaled or swallowed.

Once inside the bloodstream, PM can burrow deep into the lungs and cause a number of respiratory problems.

The study also found that worldwide, an estimated 8,000 fatalities each year are caused by pollution generated by planes at cruising altitude, which is typically 35,000 feet.

Researchers had previously thought that the most dangerous emissions from aircraft occurred at takeoff and during landings, but this new study contradicts that belief.

But despite the challenge of airport pollution, researchers are convinced that the problem is manageable.

For example, sulfur is a significant component of jet fuel and has a damaging effect on human beings, but according to Barrett, it would cost only five cents a gallon in the U.S. to remove most of the sulfur in jet fuel.

Minnesota Airport Takes Steps to Reduce Airport Pollution

Officials who operate the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport are trying to do their part to lower air pollution.

Per a report by MPR News, the airport implemented new procedures two years ago, which requires airplanes to remain at cruising altitude for a longer period of time, rather than just approaching the airport.

According to Metropolitan Airports Commission Executive Director and CEO Brian Ryks, the new procedures are having a positive effect. (2)

“By keeping the aircraft throttle pulled back, they burn less fuel,” Ryks stated. “And consequently, [they] emit less carbon dioxide exhaust than they would using a traditional, staged descent to the runway.”

The new procedures have resulted in planes burning three million fewer gallons of fuel per year, and airport officials estimate that thousands of metric tons of carbon dioxide would be reduced in the airport area and adjacent communities affected by airport pollution.

This is significant, because a recent study has found that airport pollution has a wider impact than previously thought.

The Minnesota Post published a study that found that, (3) “a significant fraction of urban dwellers living near airports likely receive most of their outdoor [particle matter] exposure from airports rather than roadway traffic.”

Much of those pollutants are composed of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide that is released through jet exhaust vapors. These pollutants have been linked to serious ailments such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Another study found that children who lived near Logan International Airport in Boston were, “four times more likely to exhibit signs of undiagnosed asthma than children living in communities further away, even after taking into account socioeconomic and other factors.”

This all points to the importance of reducing airport pollution levels in order to improve health conditions for those working at the airports, and for residents in nearby neighborhoods.

Clean Air Solutions for Airport Pollution

Camfil offers airport grade air filters  that can be used in fresh air intake systems, or in recirculation air systems. Camfil recognizes that many pollutants inside airports are generated by outdoor contamination, and our filters are designed to eliminate particulate pollutants and molecular pollutants.

Please visit our website for more information about the clean air solutions we provide for airports.

 

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E: Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

F: Friend  Camfil USA on Facebook

T: Follow Camfil USA on Twitter

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SOURCE Camfil.us

 

SOURCES

1. http://bit.ly/2sFu73t
2. http://bit.ly/2s6Eq3t
3. http://bit.ly/2dmOuwM

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How Premium Air Filters Can Save Your Company Money

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Learn about the value of installing effective air filters

As outside air pollution continues to worsen, it has a direct, negative effect on indoor air quality (IAQ). In fact, some studies have found that indoor pollution may be twice as bad as the pollution outdoors, which is why it’s so important for commercial facilities to install premium air filters. But instead of just improving the air quality, air filters can also save money through a reduction in energy costs.

“Well, we’ve discovered that there is really no substitute for good air filters at commercial facilities,” stated Kevin Wood, Camfil USA Vice President Sales & Marketing. “It is one of the areas that many business owners neglect, but when you talk about the elimination of pollutants, and the fact that premium air filters can improve the efficiency of the entire HVAC system, there is a real cost savings that can be achieved.”

A typical office building in the U.S. will spend an estimated annual average of $1.34 per square foot on power, according to National Grid, a major supplier of electricity in the US. (1)

Although energy consumption varies slightly based on climate zone, many office buildings consume the bulk of their energy through lighting, heating, office equipment, cooling and ventilation.

That is why so many commercial buildings can save money by installing high-efficiency HVAC units, which consists of efficient air-conditioning and heating units that are capable of lowering energy use by 10 percent or more.

In addition, commercial buildings can also implement what is known as demand-controlled ventilation, in which ventilation is significantly decreased when buildings are not occupied.

Demand-controlled ventilation is a smart system that can analyze the carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air flow and use that to determine how many people are in the building.

As the CO2 levels decrease, this indicates that the number of occupants is also decreasing, and the demand-controlled ventilation system automatically lowers the air supply accordingly.

Demand-controlled ventilation is most effective in commercial facilities in which occupancy rates vary, such as auditoriums, conference rooms and offices.

Savings through Air Filters

When managers of commercial facilities consider areas where they can cut costs to save money, they rarely look at the energy savings that can be achieved from installing quality air filters.

Because air filters are hidden from sight, it’s difficult to remember that they can be a source of energy savings.

But consider that in many commercial buildings, at least half the energy costs are related to the HVAC system. Moreover, an estimated 30 percent of those costs are related to air filters.

That means that anything you can do to improve the efficiency of that system will turn into actual savings.

And one of the more important aspects of air filters is how hard they force your HVAC system to work, and how efficiently they trap pollutants.

Air filters are designed to eliminate as many airborne particulates as possible, while also allowing the unimpeded flow of air to circulate through air vents.

The truth is that if you select a cheap air filter, you are doing your company a disservice, because these filters quickly accumulate dust and particles, forcing your HVAC system to utilize more power to force air through the clogged filters.

That means your HVAC system has to generate more power when your air filters are clogged, and lower-cost air filters are far more likely to become clogged in a short period of time.

Camfil’s Clean Air Solutions

Camfil HVAC air filters are made to capture pollutants and ensure optimum airflow for two to three times longer than regular air filters.

This means that you will not need to change your air filters as often, which lowers installation costs, reduces the amount of energy required to force air through your vents and saves you money.

Camfil air filters are designed for what is known as “lower average lifetime resistance,” (2) which means that your HVAC unit will not have to work as hard to allow air to circulate through the system, as it would have with a lower-quality filter.  And while it’s true that Camfil air filters are more expensive than regular filters, it is important to understand that over the long-term, this higher expense will more than pay itself off as you trim your energy costs.This is known as total cost of ownership, and it takes into account factors such as installation costs each time you change the air filters, and the costs of buying new filters. Camfil filters are estimated to save you as much as 30 percent of total electric energy spend.

50 Years of Air Filtration Solutions

For more than 50 years, Camfil has provided energy efficient HVAC air filters to commercial industries. Please visit our website to learn more about how our air filters can save you money through life cycle cost calculations.

Check Out Camfil Air Filters – Quick Cost Comparison

Air Filter Case Studies http://bit.ly/1SfIIsg

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

F: Friend  Camfil USA on Facebook

T: Follow Camfil USA on Twitter

Y: Watch Camfil Videos on YouTube

L: Follow our LinkedIn Page

 

SOURCE Camfil.us

SOURCES

1. http://ngrid.com/2rzxiLr
2. http://bit.ly/1FHmCrL

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How Ventilation Affects Air Quality At Food Processing Plants

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Learn about air handling at food processing plants

Studies have found that even the most efficient air-conditioning system can spew out high amounts of bacteria into an indoor facility, and when that facility is responsible for the manufacturing and packaging of food, that pollutant can create a health crisis. That’s why air quality at a food processing plant is so important, and also why it’s nearly impossible to eliminate pollutants without an effective air filtration system. Also read our previous blog post.

Best Air Filters for Food Industry

“Outdoor air can carry from 200 to 1,500 bacteria per cubic meter,” stated Mark Davidson, Camfil USA Food & Beverage Segment Manager. “That means that poorly filtered air conditioning systems can circulate as much as 15 million bacteria each hour, and that can compromise the quality of products at food processing plants. Understanding the importance of temperature, humidity and air filtration are the keys to establishing an effective air filtration strategy.”

Like cleanrooms and bio-labs where sterility is required, food-processing plants must be kept as free of pollutants as possible. Per an article on food safety, one of the most common ways that pathogens enter these facilities is through air that flows from doors and other openings.

These pollutants are known as “bioaerosols,” defined as (1) “airborne contaminants that include bacteria, fungi, viruses and pollen. These free-floating microorganisms may be present in the air as solids (dust) or as liquids (condensation and water), and they are an important bacterial vehicle.”

The problem is that there are often deficiencies and breakages within those openings that allow pollutants to enter the food processing facility.

That’s why the proper sealing of doorways and openings is one of the key factors in preventing pathogens from flowing through the facility.

Per the article, there are other issues in addition to sealing openings:

“Slow operating doors compromise quality and safety by enabling dust and fumes to travel with the forklift between areas. Slow speed can also reduce control over desired temperatures, threatening food quality. The faster a door operates, the more effective it serves as a barrier.”

The Importance of Air Flow

One of the biggest problems in a food processing facility is the constant amount of negative pressure.

That is the reason that food processing facilities must have as many as two-dozen air changes per hour.

Years ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture had established a minimum of six air changes per hour for meat packing facilities, but that requirement was phased out. Typically, food-processing facilities need about 20 to 25 ACHs per hour to:

“…remove off odors, steam and other airborne contaminants and filter them out of in the recycle process. The actual number of air turns depends on the type of processing taking place in the plant and must be designed by a competent HVAC engineer to fit the facility and the process.”

“Airflow in meat-processing plants, due to the presence of live animals, carry a high risk of airborne contaminants.”

In a piece on the Stellar Food for Thought website, design and construction expert Luke Facemyer writes: (3)

“In these facilities, the direction and frequency that air flows is especially important. The air from kill floors and rendering areas, where raw poultry and meat are handled, must never flow to areas such as packaging, where the airborne bacteria could infect the final product.”

Facemyer also writes that condensation control and temperature control must be strictly regulated to ensure the proper air balance between different areas or rooms of a food processing facility.

Condensation in particular can create moisture in “equipment crevices and on ledges,” causing the growth of bacteria and mold.

Clean Air Solutions

For more than 50 years, Camfil has made air filters for commercial facilities, including the food and beverage industry. Our range of air filtration systems is manufactured to help contain and eliminate microbiological contamination that can contaminate food and cause a public relations nightmare.

Please visit our air filters website to learn about how we design our high capacity air filters for the food and beverage industry.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

F: Friend  Camfil USA on Facebook

T: Follow Camfil USA on Twitter

Y: Watch Camfil Videos on YouTube

L: Follow our LinkedIn Page

 

SOURCE Camfil.us

 

SOURCES

1. http://bit.ly/2s01Nv8
2. http://bit.ly/2s0d2nn

3. http://bit.ly/2qGX7Gw

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